When it comes to shopping for the latest music gear, Leeds has all the bases covered, from top quality gear to expert advice.

If you’re in the market for a new musical instrument, turntable or hifi system, it pays to know who the experts are – and we do. So without further ado, let us introduce you to the best music shops in the city. From the Fender Stratocaster to the Gibson Les Paul, they’ll help you make the right decision about your next music purchase. Oh, and if you’re after record stores, we’ve got a guide for that too.

PMT

PMT is one of the biggest music shops in Leeds. It doesn’t matter what you want to play or how good you are, this 9,000 square foot superstore has all bases covered. It’s split into 4 parts. There are thousands of electric and acoustic guitars on the walls in their guitar shop and they’ve dedicated over half of the ground floor to adult and child drum kits. Into electronic instruments? They have in-house experts on Roland, Yamaha Pulse and Universal Audio who can help you pick up everything from keyboards to synthesisers and production gear. Want to be a superstar DJ? You can drool over the latest gear, from mixers to PA systems.

PMT, 9 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS3 1LH.

Northern Guitars

Northern Guitars is more than just a music shop in Leeds. Upstairs, it’s the same guitar store that passed the test of time, while downstairs it’s a cool cafe-bar where you can enjoy a few drinks as you listen to their live music sets. They buy vintage guitars, repair and treat them, then sell them on for the next generation to use. We’re talking classic axes like the Hofner Congress 1960-62, Gibson EB-0 1975 and Yamaha VG Standard, to name but a few. They also have a small range of acoustic guitars, pedals and accessories.

Northern Guitars, 41 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT.

Hobgoblin Music

Hobgoblin has carved out a real niche for itself. They opened their first music store over 40 years ago and offer an array of unusual folk and acoustic instruments. You can pick up everything from guitars to mandolins, banjos and squeezeboxes, but it doesn’t stop there. They have loads of percussion instruments, as well as tutor books and songbooks. The ace up their sleeve, however, is their specialist violin department where you can browse the finest violins, violas and cellos.

Hobgoblin Music, 13 Eastgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7LY.

Audio Projects

Credit: Drew Patrick-Miller

Audio Projects have been industry experts since 1970 and specialise in high quality home entertainment systems. They have a wide range of hifi systems ready to go, or you can make your own by picking out amplifiers, tuners, speakers, turntables, digital music players and CD players. It’s easy to go the whole hog with this Leeds hifi shop because they’re experts in multi-room audio systems, which connects up speakers, hifi systems and home cinema set-ups, so you can control it all on your tablet or smartphone.

Band Supplies

Band Supplies is one of the leading brass and woodwind shops in the UK. In fact, they’re so well regarded that they supply the majority of the county’s brass bands, from Grimethorpe to Black Dyke. Whether you’re after a flugel, trombone or trumpet, want to play the flute, saxophone or clarinet, they’ve got you covered with the biggest names in the business – we’re talking Besson, Elkhart and Yanigisawa. You can pick up any accessories you might need here too, so it’s a one stop shop, and they even sell a range of guitars, drums and pianos.

Band Supplies, 7 Hunslet Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1JQ.

Bop DJ

Credit: Sonia Pounder

Bop DJ is a paradise for DJs. They’re obsessed with music technology and their Leeds shop is testament to that. You’ll be amazed by their range of vinyl DJ set-ups, from big name brands like Pioneer, Technics and Denon, as well as their huge array of CD & USB players. You can pick up the very latest 2, 3 and 4 channel mixers to go with them – and they also sell everything from music production software to sequencers, sound systems, and beatboxing equipment. Got old gear you want to upgrade? Much like a car dealership, you can trade it in against the cost of your next purchase.

Bop DJ, 2 Church Walk, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7EG.

Dawsons Music

Credit: Simon Walker

Dawsons is a one-stop shop for musical instruments. Their Leeds shop is massive – you can get just about everything you need, all under one roof. You can get lost in a sea of quality electric and acoustic guitars, from Fender to Gibson, Gretsch and Tanglewood. Once you’ve picked one, you can stock up on pedals, leads and amps too. Play the drums? Their selection of Roland acoustic and electronic sets will win you over and they also have a huge array of pianos, orchestral instruments and DJ equipment. If you get stuck, their staff are on-hand to help you get the kit you need.

Dawsons Music, 113 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PJ.

Pro Audio Centre

Pro Audio Centre is the shop you need to visit for all the gear you need to sound great. It’s brilliant for DJs – they’ve got all the decks, controllers, mixers, headphones and accessories you need to get the party started, as well as lighting and sound systems. Want to deck out your studio? Pay them a visit for the latest monitors, software and equipment. They’ve even got a small, curated section dedicated to guitars and electronic drum machines.

Pro Audio Centre, Grunberg Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3HH.

Besprode Pianos

If you’re a pianist, Besprode Pianos’ Leeds shop will make you feel like a kid in a sweetshop. It’s a huge room filled with upright and grand pianos, both new and used. They’re certified agents for popular names like Steinway, Boston and Essex, as well as stocking the likes of Yamaha, Bechstein and Kawai. Not only do they sell pianos, but you can hire them too, and they offer a specialist piano removal, restoration and tuning services to make sure your piano is in tip-top shape.

Besprode Pianos, 39 Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL.

Leeds Drum Centre

If you’re a drummer, you might never want to leave Leeds Drum Centre. It’s a shop run by drummers for drummers, so if you’ve got questions or need advice, this is the perfect place to go. They specialise in Liberty, Ludwig and Sakae kits, with cymbals from the likes of Bosphorus, Istanbul Agop, Dream and Stagg. Finish off your kit with everything from drumheads to drumbeats, or you could pick up Aerodrums, an innovative invisible drum kit which allows you to play anywhere, anytime.

Northern Acoustics

Northern Acoustics is an independent, family-run music shop that only deals with acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars. They source their stock from the leading brands, like Martin & Co, Sigma and Faith Guitars. But that doesn’t mean they’re out of your price range – they’ve tailored their offering to make sure they’ve got an instrument to suit every budget and if you don’t know where to start, just ask. You can complete your collection with acoustic amps, capos, pick-ups, straps and strings.

Richer Sounds

If you’re in need of a fancy new hifi system, you know you can trust Richer Sounds. It’s a high street mainstay with everything you need – we’re talking everything from amplifiers that give you great sound to bluetooth receivers that play your tunes from wherever you are in the building. Expect quality brands like Yamaha, Cambridge Audio and Q Acoustics who know how to make your home sound as good as any club. Mad on vinyl? You can get the latest turntables, from the great value Audio Technica players to the top-of-the-range Technics direct drives.

Richer Sounds, 74 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.

All Brass and Woodwind

All Brass and Woodwind are as specialist as they come. They deal with brands at the very top of their field, so you know you’re getting quality. You can browse their range of Blow Monkey saxophones, DW horns, CB Legacy 21 trumpets and Ulyssses trombones. But that’s not all that’s on offer here. They also have a range of pre-owned brass and woodwind instruments if you’re looking for something cheaper, as well as plenty of cases, reeds and mouthpieces. Already got an instrument? You can bring it in for a full repair or make the most of their rehearsal studio out back.

All Brass and Woodwind, 82 York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 8AA.

Audio Republic

Audio Republic is a specialist hifi shop that aims to make your listening experience as good as possible. They don’t have loads of different options here, instead they focus on the highest quality. We’re talking turntables from the likes of Rega, Analogue Works and Nottingham Analogue, alongside speakers by Bowers & Wilkie, amplifiers by Rotel and all-in-one systems by Devialet. If it’s top class sound you’re looking for, and price isn’t an issue, this is the place to go in Leeds.